The "Smerch" Multiple
Launch Rocket System (MLRS) is the most powerful and the perfect MLRS of the world. It is
intended to defeat live power, destroy armored vehicles, fortifications
and command centers in 20 - 70 km range. "Smerch" was developed
at the beginning of 80-ties by Tula city "Splav" National Scientific-Production
Company of Soviet Union in cooperation with more than 20 other companies
of Soviet Union. In 1987 "Smerch" entered service in Soviet
Armed Forces. Now it is used by Russian, Ukraine, Belarus, Kuwait, and United
Arab Emirates armed forces. Indian and Chinese governments showed interest
to obtain "Smerch" for their armed forces.

Loading vehicle consists
from artillery part and "MAZ-543M" 4-axis chassis. It has
classical arrangement. Artillery part is mounted at the back part of
wheeled chassis, while driver cabin is mounted frontally. Engine
compartment and crew cabin, fitted with radio set and fire control system,
are placed frontally.

Artillery part consists from
12 launching pipes package, turning base, turning, lifting, and aiming
devices, electronic and auxiliary equipment. Launching pipes are rifled.
Pipe package can be directed form 0° to +55° in elevation range and 60°
( 30° right and 30° left) in traverse range. Hydraulic bearings are mounted between third and forth axis, which hang
vehicles rear part to ensure better stability, when fire is executed.

Reaction projectiles, developed by NSPC "Splav" for "Smerch"
MLRS have unique constructional design. Rockets provide fire accuracy
surpassing western analogues in 200 - 300%. Reaction projectiles are
fitted with flight control system, correcting rockets flight trajectory.
Correction is made with hydrodynamic correction wings, powered by high
pressure gas, from board gas generator. Furthermore rocket is stabilized
by spinning around it's axis after leaving loading pipe. Flight
stabilizers began to work right after rocket leaves loading pipe and
stabilize it as well. "Smerch" salvo accuracy is no more than
0.21% of rockets flying range.

300-mm "Smerch" projectiles are fitted with solid fuel engines.
Rockets have 7.6 m length and 800 kg weight. Warhead weight is 280 kg.
Warhead can be simple or cluster. There are developed later projectile
types:

There were developed projectiles, fitted with vacuum effect or incendiary
warheads, anti-tank or anti-personnel mines as well. "Splav"
company specialists have developed recently
thermo baric warhead to destroy fortifications and live power, covered by
them.

"Smerch" launch
vehicle is able to fire single rockets, or salvo from some to all 12
rockets. Full salvo lasts 38 seconds. Projectiles are launched by operator
from inside the cabin or outside it, using extractive control device.
Three "Smerch" launching vehicles salvo destruction power is
equal to the work of two brigades, fitted with 9K79 "Tochka-U"
ground-to-ground missiles. One launching vehicles salvo covers square of
672 square meters in 20 - 70 km range.

High "Smerch" MLRS combat electivity is ensured by usage of
"Vivariy" half-automatic fire control system. Fire control
system was developed and is produced by Tomsk city "Kontur" production
association. This fire control system joins some command vehicles placed
under MLRS brigade commander's disposition and also lower level commanders
(up to three) and MLRS batteries (up to 18). Every of such vehicles are
based on "KamAZ-4310" trucks. It has computer, display, printing
device, communication sources and scrambler equipment.
Vehicles have autonomic electricity systems moving and in position.
"Vivary" system command staff vehicles provide informational
interchanging between upper level commanders and MLRS crews. It plans
artillery fire concentration and fire into moving enemy lines tasks,
prepares data for firing, gathers and analyzes information on artillery
subdivisions. In it's efficiency "Vivariy" fire control system
is equal to USA analogue "Takefire".

Reloading and
launching vehicles chassis are almost the same and fitted with V-type
12-cylinder 525 h.p. (under 2000 rpm) diesel engine D12A-525A. It has
hydromechanic transmission with hydro transformer and planetary three
level automatic gear box.

Vehicle chassis has 8 x 8 wheel formula. Two first wheel pares are directing.
All wheels have independent torsion suspension. Wheels are fitted with
wide profile tyres. Wheels have centralized air pressure system.

"Smerch" is the
most powerful MLRS of the world, however there are no limits for modernization
works. It's modernization program was
made by it's developer "Splav" company. "Splav" have
chosen two lines of upgrading works. First of all it modernized rocket
itself, which range increased from 70 to 90 km. Now MLRS is able to
destroy frontline airbases.

Second modernization line was intended to increase it's fire accuracy and
to decrease aiming time. To ensure this Kovrov city "Signal"
Scientific Military Research Institute developed automatic all-weather
fire control system. It includes satellite navigation equipment.
Furthermore now not only staff vehicle but each MLRS vehicle is showed on
the electronic map. In fire position "Smerch" coordinates are inputted
into ballistic computer which sets elevation and traverse angles. Control,
fire preparation, firing and march preparation are made by crew from
inside the cabin.

The
same navigation system directs "Smerch" to reloading vehicle
furthermore this as the other operations are made independently from
weather conditions at day or night time.